I told good friend Pique not to post 'he's staying' Tweet - Neymar

Neymar told former Barcelona team-mate Gerard Pique not to post his now famous "he's staying" Tweet after the Brazil superstar was presented to the media by Paris Saint-Germain.

One of football's greatest transfer sagas was brought to an end on Thursday, when Ligue 1 giants PSG met Neymar's eye-watering EUR222million release clause and signed him to a five-year deal at Parc des Princes.

Last month, Pique seemingly offered hope to Barca supporters that Neymar would reject the riches of PSG to remain at Camp Nou by posting a picture of the two of them together with the caption "he's staying".

Neymar says Pique was merely expressing his own opinion and not reacting to anything he had told him.

The Brazilian said: "It was a relaxed moment, we were having lunch together and he posted a picture. We were just having fun. I told him not to!

"I was thinking about so many things at the time but he wanted to make that joke and express his feelings. I respect that.

"He's one of my close friends in football and I only wish him the best.

"I took my decision two days ago. What I did first was inform the Barcelona coach [Ernesto Valderde]. I respect the club and this coach very much so he was the first to know what my decision was."